Majorite is a high-pressure garnet variety typically found as microscopic inclusions within diamonds or as a product of meteorite impacts. It is characterized by its high-pressure structure and is highly sought after by mineralogists studying deep mantle processes.

Hardness

7-7.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrareGarnet Group family

Majorite

Hardness: 7-7.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Semitransparent

Is this majorite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch majorite with a known reference. Majorite sits at Mohs 7-7.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: yellow brown, purple red.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. Typical habit: equant grains, inclusions in diamonds.

Often confused with

Majorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside majorite

Minerals reported to co-occur with majorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Mg₃(MgSi)(SiO₄)₃
Mohs hardness: 7-7.5
Density: 4 g/cm³
Colors: Yellow brown Purple red
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Equant grains, inclusions in diamonds
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector, Scientific research
Host rock: Formed from low-calcium, high-aluminum pyroxene, olivine, and shock-induced glass, by high-pressure impact metamorphism in bolides

Where rockhounds find majorite

Classic worldwide localities

Coorara, Catherwood, Pampa del Infierno, Tenham, and Peace River chondritic meteorites

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Formed from low-calcium, high-aluminum pyroxene, olivine, and shock-induced glass, by high-pressure impact metamorphism in bolides. If you start seeing pyroxene, ringwoodite, olivine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: equant grains, inclusions in diamonds. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify majorite?+

Mohs hardness is 7-7.5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include yellow brown, purple red.

Where is majorite found?+

Notable localities include Coorara, Catherwood, Pampa del Infierno, Tenham, and Peace River chondritic meteorites.

What rocks look like majorite?+

Majorite is most often confused with Pyrope, Almandine. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with majorite?+

Majorite commonly co-occurs with Pyroxene, Ringwoodite, Olivine, Kamacite, Goethite, Troilite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does majorite form in?+

Where it forms: Formed from low-calcium, high-aluminum pyroxene, olivine, and shock-induced glass, by high-pressure impact metamorphism in bolides. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is majorite used for?+

Majorite is used in collector, scientific research.

Find majorite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.